'Smart Investing @ your library'; Program Renewed; 12 Grants Offered

Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 02/02/2009

• $882,000 in grants to 12 libraries
• A time of financial turmoil
• Wide array of programs and services

Last year, the the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation, in partnership with the American Library Association (ALA), awarded 13 grants, totaling more than $853,000, to public libraries and library networks.

The program, Smart Investing @ your library, has been renewed, with FINRA and ALA announcing nearly $882,000 in grants to 12 recipients. ALA President Jim Rettig said, “This new group of Smart investing@your library® grant recipients will continue the profession's effort to help library users gain access to unbiased investor education tools and information, which is especially critical during this time of economic turmoil.”

The diverse group of grantees will receive one to two years of funding, in addition to assistance with program marketing, outreach and evaluation provided by ALA.

List of grantees

Athens-Clarke County Library, Athens, GA, $94,510 to undertake a basic financial literacy initiative helping low-income workers with low educational attainment; to expand partnerships with local organizations, and to integrate financial literacy education into GED preparation programs at five community sites.

Chesapeake Public Library, Chesapeake, VA: $100,000 to expand virtual library services, with help from Norfolk State University, to guide library patrons through age-appropriate online tutoring experiences; to help teachers use these online modules; and to promote the $ave $teve family of personal finance characters to public schools.

Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma, OH: $99,000 to deliver an intergenerational financial literacy project for youth (primarily low income) in grades 5 through 12 and their parents; to provide after-school and summer financial literacy experiences; and to support learning objectives for schools.

Durham County Library, Durham NC: $99,679 to create a financial workshop series for young parents; to develop a web page with direct access to financial databases and other materials, including video and audio podcasts of library workshops, an e-newsletter on personal finance and online chats.

Fargo Public Library, Fargo, ND: $53,000 to expand the library's reach to multiple audiences, across language and cultural barriers, through a series on personal finance and investing.

Fond du Lac Public Library, Fond du Lac, WI: $52,525 to design a virtual "Money Smart Neighborhood" and "Money Smart University" as year-long companion components of "Money Smart Week Wisconsin," a statewide financial literacy campaign; and to educate Baby Boomers nearing retirement and then Generation Y.

Glendale Public Library, Glendale, AZ: $81,219 to reach military service members and their families, low- and middle-income adults (including Spanish-speakers) and teens from various economic backgrounds with financial and investor education seminars.

Greenville County Library System, Greenville, SC: $49,550 to partner with faculty from the Clemson University Finance Department and address the financial and investment education needs of women ages 18-64, with particular emphasis on low-income heads of households.

Loveland Public Library, Loveland, CO: $31,887 to work with Colorado State University Extension, to offer "Money Talks" at the library and on Loveland's cable TV station; and to help prevent financial fraud among older investors through outreach efforts with other organizations. 

New Haven Free Public Library, New Haven, CT: $78,364 to collaborate with nearby higher-education institutions, on library programming about investing; and to integrate financial literacy resources and discussion groups permanently into library's 50+ Transition Center.

Pioneer Library System, Norman, OK:, $78,713 to conduct personal finance seminars; to partner with state and regional agencies to assist with library staff training and provide instructional materials; and to work with junior high schools and high schools.

Riverside County Library System, Riverside, CA: $63,523 to model easy-to-replicate financial literacy programs; to design an intergenerational program for children and parents; to establish a "Morning Coffee Investment Club"; to create financial workshops for youth ages 14 to 18; to produce a series called Money Skills for Life; and to couple story time with financial literacy workshops for parents.